Dr. Jorge Alió directs the 24th ARI 2026 Congress, held online from October 22 to 24 with 48 international and 53 Spanish speakers.
It is the world’s leading congress in its specialty, offering continuing medical education accessible from any country for six months, helping to overcome economic, geographical and time barriers.
Alicante will once again be a global meeting point for ophthalmological innovation with the 24th Alicante Refractiva Internacional Congress (ARI), which will take place from October 22 to 24 with free registration and under the scientific direction of Prof. Dr. Jorge Alió, president of the European Academy of Ophthalmology. Sharing the latest advances in refractive surgery, cataract, cornea, intraocular lenses and ocular surface is the goal of this edition, which will bring together 101 specialists from 30 different countries.
It is a more accessible, efficient, and egalitarian alternative
Such is the scale of this event that in 2025 the website registered more than 53,000 visits, confirming interest in an open and flexible model of scientific updating. This time, the topics to be addressed will relate to the advanced management of progressive myopia, applied artificial intelligence, cutting-edge treatments for dry eye and keratoconus, the latest generation of intraocular lenses (IOLs) and early interventional glaucoma, among others.
For the professor of Ophthalmology at Miguel Hernández University (UMH) in Elche, ‘ARI represents an evolution in the way scientific knowledge is shared, and healthcare professionals are trained. Compared with the conventional model, we propose a more accessible, efficient and egalitarian alternative that encourages the participation of ophthalmologists and other eye care professionals, regardless of their country of residence or ability to travel’. Although it is a three-day continuing medical education program, the Alicante-based event will provide access to the scientific content for the six months that follow through its exclusive medical education platform, in both Spanish and English.
Experts from thirty different countries
The ARI 2026 scientific program features 53 Spanish and 48 international experts from countries such as Albania, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States and Venezuela. An opportunity to learn about the main innovations in anterior segment eye surgery.
Structured around five thematic areas, participants will address cataract surgery, techniques for correcting refractive errors, new intraocular lenses, corneal diseases and ocular surface treatment. In this way, through keynote lectures, round tables, practical sessions and clinical case presentations, they will share surgical experiences, technological advances, diagnostic strategies and new therapeutic alternatives aimed at improving visual outcomes and patient safety.
ARI is the world’s most important online congress in its field
The congress is broadcast from Vissum Miranza Alicante and is endorsed by the International Society of Refractive Surgery (ISRS) and OFTARED of the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII). It also has the support of the Miguel Hernández University (UMH) in Elche, with which it maintains ties through the International University Specialization Course in Refractive Surgery, Cornea and Lens, which is accredited with ECMEC Continuing Medical Education credits at European level. This course has been offered for more than thirteen years with the aim of expanding opportunities to stay up to date academically and professionally, reinforcing the commitment of Dr. Alió and his team to innovation, teaching quality and open access to scientific knowledge.
With more than two decades of experience, ARI 2026 is the most important online congress in the world in its specialty. Its main distinguishing feature is its open educational model, which gives any professional free access to the website aricongreso.com from anywhere. Its development would not be possible without the support of leading companies in the ophthalmology sector such as: Biotech, Zeiss Group, Alcon, Bausch & Lomb, Essilor, Topcon, Théa Pharma, Staar Surgical, Johnson & Johnson, Glaukos, AkkoLens, Brill Pharma, HOYA Surgical, Ophtec, CSO, BVI Medical, Salvat Pharmaceutical Group, Excellens, Moria Spain and AST Visioncare, among others.